By Yavuz Tandoğan
From: Trabzon
Attending: Boğaziçi University, İstanbul
Age: 20 years old
In May of 1867, Emperor Napoleon III of France resolved to extend an invitation to Ottoman Empire, His Imperial Majesty Sultan Abdulaziz to attend an international industrial exposition to be held in Paris. This gesture was intended not only to restore the waning political ties with the Ottoman Empire following the Crimean War but also to grace Paris and the French Empire with the presence of an Ottoman Sultan and Caliph, thereby bestowing upon the fair an unparalleled honour.
Nevertheless, according to the longstanding tradition of the Ottoman state, it was unheard of for sultans to venture abroad for the purpose of travel. As a result, both the Sultan and the members of the royal family were initially reluctant to endorse such an expedition.
Diplomatic Expediencies of State
Ottoman statesmen believed that this journey would yield significant diplomatic advantages. They contended that through this official visit, the peaceful and liberal inclinations of the Ottomans could be effectively communicated to foreign dignitaries, thereby showcasing the progressive reforms undertaken by the Empire to the European powers. Furthermore, the trip was seen as an opportunity to diminish European support for Russia, which had aligned against the Ottoman Empire in the ongoing Cretan crisis and the Montenegrin Rebellion, while also swaying public opinion in France—a nation aligned with Russia in foreign policy—in favour of Turkey. Additionally, the journey was anticipated to facilitate the procurement of European loans to support government expenditures. Therefore, the Grand Vizier of the time, Ali Pasha, along with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fuad Pasha, endeavoured to persuade the Sultan regarding a potential journey to Europe. It was equally imperative for the Sultan to witness firsthand the material advancements of the Western world, to gain insight into the European monarchical systems, and to cultivate personal acquaintance with the rulers of Europe.
Meanwhile, Queen Victoria of Britain, upon learning of the French Emperor’s invitation to the Sultan, swiftly extended her own invitation for a visit to London. Sultan Abdulaziz, perceiving these consecutive invitations as aligned with the interests of the state, graciously consented to accept both of them.
The Grand Europe Tour
Sultan Abdulaziz arrived at Dolmabahçe Palace with his state officials following a ceremonial event held after the afternoon prayer in Ortaköy on June 21, 1867. Thereafter, he commenced his grand European journey by boarding the imperial yacht, Sultaniye. Accompanying the Sultan on his journey were Crown Prince Murad Efendi (the future Sultan Murad V), Prince Abdulhamid Efendi (the future Sultan Abdulhamid II), the Sultan’s eldest son, Prince Yusuf İzzeddin Efendi, and Mehmed Fuad Pasha.
The Sultan, having been received with great ceremony in Dardanelles the following day, arrived at the Sicilian port of Messina on June 25, escorted by both the Turkish and French naval fleets. On June 28, he reached Naples and, on the subsequent day, arrived at the port of Toulon in France, where he disembarked. Greeted with an official ceremony, the Sultan then proceeded to Paris by train, travelling via Marseille.
The Turkish delegation, having arrived in Paris on June 30, was met with great and distinguished enthusiasm. Following his reception by Emperor Napoleon III at the Gare-de-Lyon, the Sultan proceeded to the Tuileries Palace, where he was presented to Empress Eugénie. Subsequently, he took residence at the Élysée Palace, which had been specially assigned for him. The following day, the Sultan, accompanied by the Emperor and Empress, observed the military parade held in his honour at Concorde Square. Thereafter, he had an audience with Tsar Alexander II of Russia, who was already present in Paris.
During his ten-day stay in France, the Sultan made many gifts to the servants and various people in need. He visited Paris and the Palace of Versailles, attended theatres, exhibitions and balls. As recorded in the travel diaries, Crown Prince Murad Efendi, a handsome young man who spoke fluent French, attracted great attention from French society during the trip.
A farewell dinner was hosted in the Sultan’s honour at the Tuileries Palace. One of the main topics of discussion was the Cretan issue, which was already highly contentious. Napoleon III made the following remarks regarding the conflict: “Your Excellency, the most effective resolution to the Cretan issue would be to cede the island to Greece.” In response, Sultan Abdulaziz expressed his displeasure, stating: “The Ottoman Empire has fought for Crete for twenty-seven years. Every inch of Crete’s soil has been soaked with the blood of martyrs. I shall continue to fight until no soldier remains in my armies and no vessel is left in my navy. If necessary, I will abandon Crete only under such dire circumstances.” Consequently, the Emperor felt compelled to apologise.
Sultan Arrives in Britain
The following day, on July 10, Emperor Napoleon III bid farewell to the Sultan and the other guests, who then departed from Paris and embarked at Boulogne. After crossing the English Channel and reaching Dover, escorted by the French and British navies, the Sultan was graciously received by the British heir, Prince Edward and the Khedive of Egypt.
Sultan Abdulaziz arrived in London on July 11 and took up residence at Buckingham Palace. The following day, he was received by Her Majesty Queen Victoria of Great Britain, who accorded him a splendid welcome ceremony. That evening, the Sultan attended a grand banquet given in his honour by the Prince of Wales. The next day, the Sultan and the Queen went for a ride together along the River Thames in the royal barge.
The Order of the Garter, the most esteemed state order of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, was conferred upon Sultan Abdulaziz by Queen Victoria. Besides that, the Queen proposed the notion of forging a kinship bond between the two dynasties by marrying a lady from the British Royal Family to Crown Prince Murad Efendi. However, the Sultan did not look favourably upon this matrimonial alliance.
During his eleven-day visit to London, the Sultan participated in numerous official engagements, including invitations to balls, theatres, exhibitions, and concerts. He met with a variety of foreign diplomats and representatives from various communities. The Sultan, alongside the Queen, observed the manoeuvres of the British navy and subsequently visited the shipyards in Portsmouth. He also attended sessions of the House of Commons and listened to debates among MPs. He visited London City Hall as well, where he was honoured with the title of Honorary Citizen of London. During his stay in England, the Sultan generously donated 2,500 Ottoman gold coins to those who served him and to the needy.
Before leaving, the Sultan paid a visit to the residence of the late former Prime Minister Lord Palmerston who passed away two years prior, and extended his condolences to the family. He was known for his pro-Turkish and anti-Russian stance in European diplomacy during his time in office. The policy he followed had solidified the high regard held for him by Turkish authorities.
Final Days of Tour
On July 23, the Sultan and the Turkish delegation departed London and travelled from the port of Dover to Calais, France, escorted by the British navy. The next day, they proceeded to Brussels, where the Sultan dined with King Leopold II of Belgium before continuing on to Koblenz, Prussia, later that day. Upon his arrival in the city on July 25, the Sultan was greeted by King Wilhelm I of Prussia and Queen Augusta. During his stay, the Sultan participated in various festivities, conducted an inspection of the Prussian army, and, after a leisurely excursion on the Rhine River with Wilhelm I, departed the city for Vienna.
Arriving there on July 28, the Sultan was received with a grand ceremony attended by Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph I, archdukes, and members of parliament. He remained in Vienna for three days, during which he explored the city, undertook a brief tour of the walls of Vienna Castle, and observed the artillery manoeuvres of the Austrian Army.
On July 31, the Sultan arrived in Budapest, an old Ottoman city, via ferry across the Danube River and took part in the official ceremonies. Hungarian noblemen, attired in Turkish-inspired dress and armed with swords, welcomed the royal fleet. Hungarian people expressed their gratitude to the Turkish Sultan for the protection of the Hungarians who had sought refuge in Ottoman lands in 1849.
On August 3, the Sultan crossed the Danube to Vidin by ferry once again and finally stepped into Ottoman territory. The next day he disembarked in Ruse, where he was welcomed by the Grand Vizier, the Ministers and the Romanian Prince Carol.
Back To Istanbul
Continuing on its way via Varna, the royal fleet ultimately entered the Bosphorus on the morning of 7 August. The Sultan’s return to the capital was announced with cannon fire from the castles along the Bosphorus. The people greeted their Sovereign with peerless fervour at the Dolmabahçe Palace pier, where they assembled in a throng of monumental grandeur. The words that Sultan Abdulaziz said while getting off the ship would go down in history as an expression of a bitter truth: “Our ancestors once embarked on horseback with the aim of conquest. Now we can only go by train or ferry for politics!…”.
In tribute to the Sovereign’s return, celebrations were held in the city over the course of three days.
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